Leaderboard

it sounds like lots of things. Your hooks may be dull, or the point may be turned over. It may be your using too small of a hook for the plastic you are throwing. You may be setting the hook before the fish has the hook in it's mouth. Sometimes bass pickup a plastic by the tail and swim away with it. When you set the hook, you bring back a baitless lure, or a ripped plastic. I have had days when the fish only pick the plastic by the tail. I have tried feeling them out but its tough to tell which thump is the one you need to set on. If you wait too long you can gut hook the fish. They like what your throwing, but not enough to engulf it. Try different colors- I figure the fish who pick up lures like that have been caught and they are testing it to see if its fake or not. They probably see the same old colors all the time so try and use those less common colors when the bass are being picky. Sometimes even a subtle change in lure style works too. Say the bass are being picky with tubes. Tie on a craw tube and give that a try. Or instead of a regular space monkey, rip the arms off for a different action. Or you could also try tipping the plastic with JJ's magic. I can almost promise you wont miss those picky biters. The bass get enraged when they taste or smell garlic for some reason. Adding that may help the fish engulf the lure rather than playing patty cake with it. I would suggest loosening your drag a tiny bit. It sounds like with 65# braid your drags too tight and your creating a hole as you bring him in. In order for that fish with the hole to get off, he'd need slack line. Just keep your line tight and your tip up and it should solve that problem. However when you feel the bass about to jump, lower your rod tip to one side or the other, maintaining that tight line, and the leverage he needs to jump and throw that hook is gone. I dont see how a snell would help other than if your line is snapping completely. But if your using 65# test you are probably getting knicks in your line and when the fight happens, your line fails. The knicks usually occur in the first 5 foot or so above your lure. Mainly when fishing rocks though. So if your line breaks due to a knick, you would most likely assume it was a knot failure. Which is not likely with a polamer knot and braid. If the stuff your fishing is as nasty as it sounds, tieing a snell could only help. Hopefully this helps Try these tips and see what happens. Keep us posted

I didn't get married until I was 45, when I was single I was at many of those beaches. A thick wallet is the best chick magnet. Many of those buffed guys at those beaches are really looking for other guys, like South Beach in Miami. At other venues where the emphasis is not on outwardly appearances or where the "10's" go, a quality sincere man will do just fine. Most women are looking for security, stability, a man that knows how to treat them right, those are the quality chicks.

yeaaa righttt kidd...not even close to real life

I worked out hard for many years. My interest waned when I got married, too many other things took priority. As long as my wife loves me the way I am, nothing else really matters. To me what's important is how my total health is, that I have maintained. At 65 I'm still 135#, very active, spend nearly everyday catching the kind of fish I enjoy. I don't need the biggest fish out, just the best life I can make for myself.

The concern many of us have isn't that it will be for the rest of his life, but for "later" in his life. A quick look at many of our profiles will show that we're mostly part of the grey haired bunch of this crazy family. More importantly, is that many of the dark haired group may not realize is that many of us are going through the very aches and pains that we're trying to warn him about. Aside from a tendon in my right thumb that locks up every once in awhile, most of the abuse I put my body through resides in my knees. I'm sure the rest of these old farts can give their own war stories about parts not working like they used to. There are two lessons that most folks could learn from this discussion. The first is that we all thought the same way when we were younger. Secondly, is the fact that when someone asks for an opinion, you're probably going to get one.

I'm 22. Why what does that matter? And actually, I am going to have to disagree with you. Anyone who is THAT buffed ( black guy in that picture) is disgusting. I'm at the age where the only thing i think about is chicks and gettin laid. I LITERALLY can not think of 1 chick on this planet that would go hod wild for a guy who looks like that. its disgusting. EDIT: also, side note, dudes who look like that tend of look at themselves and say "d**n, i look good" bu you know what EVERYONE else says : "d**n, he's disgusting" or "gross" or something like that. it's not attractive.

So just picked up my food and they gave me the wrong order. 2 large subs...mozz sticks...large fry... Now the dilemma...do i bring it back. I'm going to say no.

And the hand? I'm really not trying to pick on you too hard, but you are starting to remind me of a guy I went to high school with. Whatever you do, I wouldn't follow his career path. He tried the butchering trade until he could only count to about 7 1/2 if you know what I mean. So..... When and where is the next stop? Where you at in the year-to-date standings?

Nice commercial , bass weren't too bad either.

http://www.wyff4.com/r/27200800/detail.html

Make sure that when you flip or pitch there is enough slack in the line for the bait to fall straight down. Often times when flipping in thick bushes, the line is over a limb or branch and if it does not have enough slack to fall to the fish, the fish will swirl up at that bait like you mention. If the fish does get the bait, more than likely it's the end of the bait which explains why you get a bare hook back. Allowing some slack will allow the fish to get the bait in it's mouth. Make a pitch or flip, reel up the slack, and if you feel tension or the fish moving off, immediately hit him and reel for all you're worth to get it up or out of the cover. Make sure the hooks you are using are the right size for the baits you're throwing. With 65lb braid, you should be using a heavy wire hook. I mostly use a Reaction Innovations BMF for beavers and craws, Trokar tube hook or Gamakatsu superline EWG for tubes. These hooks will not flex like a light wire hook thus increasing penetration with heavy rods and line like you are using. Also, if you are using a hook like the BMF, definately use a snell knot. A properly tied snell will force the hook point up when you set the hook. I have many fish hook themselves with this knot. If you aren't, peg your weights. In thick bushes you'd be suprised how many times the weight falls on one side of a limb and the bait on the other. Would also cause a fish to swirl at the bait. One last thing.....make sure your weigth size is appropriate. Try going up or down in weight until the fish tell you it's right. Sometimes they just want a slower rate of fall, others they want it falling at light speed.

Drop shot will put more fish in a boat and is more versatile. Mix it up. Put a 3 inch Senko on a drop shot rig and hold on!!!!

After 15 years of trying, I'm beginning to lose confidence in my Roland Martin Helicopter lure.

geez, yall act like its a major life threatening injury. athletes often play through injuries, delaying surgery till after the season, and come out just fine. cut the kid a break. and hey, if he wants to learn things the hard way then let him, thats the only way for some people to learn anything. 3 days extra of no cast probably didnt make or break this kids life like many of you are acting. some injuries might require emergency surgery, sometimes youre sent home and have to wait for surgery till the 'swelling goes down'...

As bad as this sounds, the fishing may still be there but the money and time I put in this month for the tournament will not be. I'm getting a cast it just has to wait till Monday. The cast is gonna cause me to be taken out of spring training for football which is gonna be another problem but right now, all practice is doing is making it worse. I understand what you guys are saying and it makes perfect sense but, I have to tough it out just another 3 days.

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make the dummy drink !!!!!!!!!!

Ouch?